Floral spray holder for caskets



Oct. 14, 1941. P. J. LUCAS 2,259,209

FLORAL SPRAY HOLDER FOR GASKETS Filed June 28, 1940 INVENTOR.

Paul I.L.u :as

BL 2 w ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 14, 1941 OFFlCE 2,259,209 fj FLORAL SPRAY HOLDER FOR CAS KETS Paul J. Lucas, Shamokin, Pa. Application June 28, 1940, Serial No. 343,014

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to floral spray holders and the primary object of the invention is to provide a holder of this character which is adapted for retaining floral pieces and the like in position upon the lid of a casket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a floral piece holder for caskets in which a frictional contact with the surface of the lid is employed for retaining the holder in place and per mitting the casket to be carried without danger of the floral piece sliding or falling off the casket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder of this character which when placed upon the rounded or arched surface of the casket lid will be held against displacement without requiring the use of hooks or other means of attachment to the lid.

A further object is to provide a floral piece holder for caskets which is simple and inexpensive, and which holder may be readily used upon casketsof different sizes without marring the lid upon which the holder is placed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accomv panying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the floral piece holder.

Figure 2 is a side view of the holder shown in position upon the lid of a casket.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view of an end portion of one of the side structures of the holder.

Referring to the drawing in detail and wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A may designate a casket having the lid or cover B, while C designates the holder adapted to rest upon the lid B for retaining a floral piece or spray in place upon the lid.

The lid B as is usually the case, is provided with the transversely arched upper surface 5 and heretofore considerable difliculty and annoyance has been experienced in retaining floral pieces in place upon the lid without tying the floral piece in place. Even with the floral piece tied in place, when the casket is being carried it quite often becomes necessary to hold the floral piece in place upon the lid. The improved floral piece holder C is designed so that when placed upon the arched surface 5, the holder will have such frictional gripping action upon the lid as to remain in proper place and retain a floral piece held thereby in place against sliding even when the casket is tilted slightly while being carried.

The holder C comprises a wire frame 6 which is of general saddle shape and embodies a pair of upwardly bowed or arched side rods or spanner members 1 each having a strap loop or elongated eye 8 formed at each end thereof. These loops or eyes 8 may be formed integral withthe rods 1 so as to project equallyto opposite sides of the rods and as shown more clearly in Figure 4, are slightly downwardly offset with respect to the line of curvature of the rods. Connecting the arched side rods 1 are two or more parallel spaced apart cross or tie rods 9 which may be welded or otherwise secured to the upper side of the side rods adjacent to the crown portions of the side rods. 7

Secured to each of the side rods 1 in any preferred manner, and at the crown portion of the rod, is a prong III for holding a floral piece on the holder. These prongs l0 may vary in shape and number, and in the example shown have L- shaped. spray engaging portions which extend above the side rods and upon which the floral spray may be spiked or otherwise attached;

Connected between the strap loops or eyes 8 of each'side rod 1 so as to extend across the concave under side of the rod, is a flexible gripping strip |2 formed of rubber, leather, fabric or the like. These flexible gripping strips or bands l2 have their ends formed into closed loops [4 which are connected with the elongated eyes 8 whereby the end portions of the strips pass beneath the eye and prevent the metal eyes from contacting the casket lid. The central portion of each band I2 is attached to the crown portion of its respective side rod by means of a short flexible coupling loop [5 which acts to retain the central portion of the band in aligning relation beneath the side rod. These coupling loops [5 also act to retain the bands l2 looped within the arc of the frame 6 so that the holder will be more compact when not in use, and further reduce chances of the bands becoming caught in objects while handling the holder.

The bands or straps l2 are preferably made of rubber so as to be elastic and form a good gripping surface for engaging the surface of the lid B. Referring particularly to Figure 2, showing the holder C in place resting upon the transversely arched lid B, it will be seen that the flexible straps l2 conform to the curvature of the lid and contact the lid thruout the length of the straps, while the frame 6 is spaced from the lid except at the ends of the side rods 1. Thus the straps l2 have a frictional grip upon the lid B such as will retain the holder C against sliding relative to the lid.

The normal length of the straps I2 is slightly less than the length of the side rods 1 whereby the radius of the are formed by the straps I2 will be slightly greater than the radius of the are formed by the side rods, as will be apparent from Figure 2. With this construction, when a floral piece is attached to the holder, the Weight of the floral piece will tend to lower the crown portion of the frame 6 and spread the terminal strap loops 8, thus tensioning the straps I2 and increasing the frictional grip of the straps upon the lid. Since the straps l2 extend directly beneath the side rods 1, the straps will prevent the side rods from contacting the lid B and possibly marring the lid surface or finish: In this-respectit will be noted that the cross rods or ties 9 are connected to the upper side of the side rods I, thus leaving a smooth under surface for the side rods. The slight downward offsetting of the strap loops 8 seryes to normally space the bowed portions of the side-arms above-the lid surface so that when the holder is initially placed on the lid, the side arms will be. supported only at their ends. 1 7

While the frame has been shown constructed of wire rod of circular c'rosslsection, the frame may be made from strip, or band. metal, if desired. Likewise, theattaching hooks l may vary in number and sh'ap'e, as desired.

Changes in detail may be made tothe form of the invention herein shown and. described withoutjdeparting from the spirit of the inven-. tion or. the scope of the following. claims.

I claim:

v 1. A holder for retaining floral piecesupon the lid of a casket, comprising an arched frame, means for attaching a-floral piece. to the upper side of the, frame, andflexible lid engaging-straps connected between the ends of. the frame and extending across the under side of theframe for frictional contact throughout their length with the upper surface of the lid.

2. A floral spray holder for casket lids, com prising a frame including upwardlyboirie'd side members, .meansfor attaching a, floral spray to.

the frame, and an elastic strap connected between the lower ends of each side member for frictional contact with the upper surface of the lid, said straps normally having a length which is less than the length of their bowed side members.

3. A floral spray holder for use upon lids of caskets, comprising a frame including spaced apart arched side rods, a strap loop at each end of each .side rod, a flexible strap connected between the loops of each side rod for frictional contact with the upper surface of the casket lid, and means for attaching a floral spray to the upper side of the frame.

4, A holder for retaining floral sprays upon arched lids of caskets, comprising an arched frame including upwardly bowed side rods, a strap 10011011 each end of each side rod, an elastic strap extending beneath each side rod and connected at its ends in the strap loops of its respective side rod, means loosely suspending the medial portions of the straps from the side rods,-

and means for attaching a floral spray upon the upper side of the frame.

5. A floral spray holder, comprising an arched frame including upwardly bowed side rods, tie rods connecting the side rods in parallel spaced apart relation, a strap loop formed on the lower end of each side rod and offset downwardly with respect to the line of curvature of the side rods,-

an elastic strap extending beneath each side rod and having loops at its ends engaging in said strap loops, tie members retaining the central portions of the straps aligned beneath their respective side rods, and means on the frame for attaching a floral piece to the frame.

6. A floral spray holder for casket lids, comprising a yieldable arched frame, elastic friction grip straps connected across the concave under side of the frame, and means for attaching a floral spray to the upper side of the crown pore tion of the frame, the weight of the floral spray acting to spread the arched frame and stretch the grip straps taut to increase the frictional contact of the grip straps upon the surface of the casket lid.

PAUL J. LUCAS. 

